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Liionel Messi skips a challenge from Valencia's Uros Racic. Reuters
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Lionel Messi during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia, when he matched Pele's record. AFP
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Lionel Messi is congratulated by Barcelona teammates after scoring the goal against Valencia that saw him pull level with Pele's record for most goals for a single club. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi misses a penalty against Valencia. Reuters
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Lionel Messi misses a penalty against Valencia at the start of the move that led to his record-equalling goal. Reuters
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Lionel Messi heads home his 643rd goal for Barcelona. AFP
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Lionel Messi during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia. AFP
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Barcelona's Ronald Araujo (2L) celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi. AFP
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Lionel Messi on the ball during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia. AFP
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Liionel Messi skips a challenge from Valencia's Uros Racic. Reuters
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Lionel Messi during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia, when he matched Pele's record. AFP
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Lionel Messi is congratulated by Barcelona teammates after scoring the goal against Valencia that saw him pull level with Pele's record for most goals for a single club. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi heads the ball to score Barcelona's first goal against Valencia. AFP
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Lionel Messi misses a penalty against Valencia. Reuters
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Lionel Messi misses a penalty against Valencia at the start of the move that led to his record-equalling goal. Reuters
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Lionel Messi heads home his 643rd goal for Barcelona. AFP
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Lionel Messi during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia. AFP
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Barcelona's Ronald Araujo (2L) celebrates his goal with Lionel Messi. AFP
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Lionel Messi on the ball during Barcelona's La Liga match against Valencia. AFP
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Liionel Messi skips a challenge from Valencia's Uros Racic. Reuters
Lionel Messi's record-breaking career echoes Pele's in more ways than one
The Barcelona forward will soon move out on his own as the highest scorer for one club, but like the Brazil great's final days at Santos, his association with his club seems a burden
![Ian Hawkey](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F96f52b9a-4555-4c17-8cff-6fc2526824d5.png?smart=true&auth=687abaf05f4cc86a26f3998a06318c496c949aa829c6b4f450a8511e4a3a5557&width=70&height=70)
Ian Hawkey
22 December, 2020
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